A systematic assessment tool designed to identify specific deficits in phonological awareness and decoding skills is utilized to guide targeted educational support. This assessment aims to pinpoint areas where students struggle with letter-sound relationships, blending, segmenting, and other foundational reading skills. For instance, a student might exhibit difficulty differentiating between short vowel sounds or accurately blending consonant clusters.
Effective identification of these skill gaps is essential for addressing potential reading difficulties early on, mitigating the risk of future academic challenges. Such screening provides educators with data-driven insights, facilitating the creation of tailored instructional strategies and interventions. Historically, the development of these assessment tools has been driven by research emphasizing the critical role of phonological awareness and phonics in early reading acquisition.
